Power
Of The Dragonflame
[LMP/SPV]
Luca Turilli certainly was busy in 2002. Three albums – two with Rhapsody and one solo – are quite a bit for any one musician/composer to be a part of. And while "Prophet of the Last Eclipse" was a mostly exceptional album, it is a shame that the best of the three was the solo work, and not a Rhapsody album. The Algalord Chronicles have at last come to an end, and it is a great shame that the final chapter of this saga is not better.
"Power of the Dragonflame" is the fifth Rhapsody album, and brings to a close the tale begun with 1997's "Legendary Tales." From the beginning this was meant to be a five-album musical concept, a daunting task from the outset but now a fantastic reality. Despite the labeling of "Power of the Dragonflame" as the "Algalord Chronicles, Part IV," this is the fifth and final part of the set. Why "Rain of a Thousand Flames" is not considered Part IV, when it is very obviously part of the same story and takes place between "Dawn of Victory" and "Power of the Dragonflame," is beyond me. But nonetheless, this is the album wherein lies the final confrontation between the Warrior of Ice and the dark lord Akron. The fate of the Enchanted Lands is cast; some characters die, and others are redeemed. And in the end, peace returns to the world. At least, until the next time...
Despite a story that ends up being far more impressive than one would have expected, "Power of the Dragonflame" is on the disappointing side. Gone is the majority of the orchestration that pervaded every previous Rhapsody album. Instead, the band seems to have become a more simplified neo-classical power metal band. The full orchestra of authentic instruments on previous Rhapsody albums has been reduced to a baroque recorder and a lead violin. That's it. There are still the epic choirs and Alex Staropoli's keyboards (more keyboards than ever before), but like the latest Nile album Rhapsody seems to have abandoned most of the extraneous instruments and classical interludes in favor of creating their musical atmosphere with primarily their metal instruments. And the result is just not Rhapsody. Gone is the distinction that set Rhapsody above so many other bands in a similar genre of music. "Power of the Dragonflame" is severely lacking in the memorable textures and sonic beauty of the first three Rhapsody albums.
Most of the songs are unimaginative and uninspired. Even the names of some tracks have become parodies of previous greatness: "Knightrider of Doom" and "Steelgods of the Last Apocalypse" are two such silly titles. Luckily, there are still some great songs on this album. "When Demons Awake" is surprisingly brutal, and offers vocalist Fabio Leone a chance to perform some amazingly harsh vocals (his vocal performance throughout the album is better than usual). "Lamento Eroico" is sung entirely in Italian, and is probably the most epically heroic Rhapsody song ever. And as over all disappointing as the album might be, a huge exception is made with the final track, "Gargoyles, Angels of Darkness." At more than nineteen minutes, it is the longest and most sweeping Rhapsody song ever conceived, and meets the daunting task of bringing a 47-song saga to a satisfying end. This final piece begins with some rather impressive acoustic guitar – not, unfortunately, composed or played by Luca Turilli – and narrates the end of the dark lord and the final sacrifice of the Warrior of Ice. "Gargoyles, Angels of Darkness" is without a doubt the shining moment of the album, one of the best single Rhapsody songs ever, and almost redeems "Power of the Dragonflame." Almost.
This album is not bad, so much as it is disappointing. What happened to Rhapsody? Every album was better than the last, up until 2002. "Rain of a Thousand Flames" was good but not good enough, and "Power of the Dragonflame" was even less impressive. Perhaps Luca Turilli spent most of his creative energies on his solo project, rather than devote the time to Rhapsody that they deserved? I don't know. If you are truly a Rhapsody fan (as I am), then you will most likely love this album. But while "Power of the Dragonflame" brings the Algalord Chronicles to a worthy end, it is easily the least remarkable Rhapsody album of the set.
[LMP/SPV]
Luca Turilli certainly was busy in 2002. Three albums – two with Rhapsody and one solo – are quite a bit for any one musician/composer to be a part of. And while "Prophet of the Last Eclipse" was a mostly exceptional album, it is a shame that the best of the three was the solo work, and not a Rhapsody album. The Algalord Chronicles have at last come to an end, and it is a great shame that the final chapter of this saga is not better.
"Power of the Dragonflame" is the fifth Rhapsody album, and brings to a close the tale begun with 1997's "Legendary Tales." From the beginning this was meant to be a five-album musical concept, a daunting task from the outset but now a fantastic reality. Despite the labeling of "Power of the Dragonflame" as the "Algalord Chronicles, Part IV," this is the fifth and final part of the set. Why "Rain of a Thousand Flames" is not considered Part IV, when it is very obviously part of the same story and takes place between "Dawn of Victory" and "Power of the Dragonflame," is beyond me. But nonetheless, this is the album wherein lies the final confrontation between the Warrior of Ice and the dark lord Akron. The fate of the Enchanted Lands is cast; some characters die, and others are redeemed. And in the end, peace returns to the world. At least, until the next time...
Despite a story that ends up being far more impressive than one would have expected, "Power of the Dragonflame" is on the disappointing side. Gone is the majority of the orchestration that pervaded every previous Rhapsody album. Instead, the band seems to have become a more simplified neo-classical power metal band. The full orchestra of authentic instruments on previous Rhapsody albums has been reduced to a baroque recorder and a lead violin. That's it. There are still the epic choirs and Alex Staropoli's keyboards (more keyboards than ever before), but like the latest Nile album Rhapsody seems to have abandoned most of the extraneous instruments and classical interludes in favor of creating their musical atmosphere with primarily their metal instruments. And the result is just not Rhapsody. Gone is the distinction that set Rhapsody above so many other bands in a similar genre of music. "Power of the Dragonflame" is severely lacking in the memorable textures and sonic beauty of the first three Rhapsody albums.
Most of the songs are unimaginative and uninspired. Even the names of some tracks have become parodies of previous greatness: "Knightrider of Doom" and "Steelgods of the Last Apocalypse" are two such silly titles. Luckily, there are still some great songs on this album. "When Demons Awake" is surprisingly brutal, and offers vocalist Fabio Leone a chance to perform some amazingly harsh vocals (his vocal performance throughout the album is better than usual). "Lamento Eroico" is sung entirely in Italian, and is probably the most epically heroic Rhapsody song ever. And as over all disappointing as the album might be, a huge exception is made with the final track, "Gargoyles, Angels of Darkness." At more than nineteen minutes, it is the longest and most sweeping Rhapsody song ever conceived, and meets the daunting task of bringing a 47-song saga to a satisfying end. This final piece begins with some rather impressive acoustic guitar – not, unfortunately, composed or played by Luca Turilli – and narrates the end of the dark lord and the final sacrifice of the Warrior of Ice. "Gargoyles, Angels of Darkness" is without a doubt the shining moment of the album, one of the best single Rhapsody songs ever, and almost redeems "Power of the Dragonflame." Almost.
This album is not bad, so much as it is disappointing. What happened to Rhapsody? Every album was better than the last, up until 2002. "Rain of a Thousand Flames" was good but not good enough, and "Power of the Dragonflame" was even less impressive. Perhaps Luca Turilli spent most of his creative energies on his solo project, rather than devote the time to Rhapsody that they deserved? I don't know. If you are truly a Rhapsody fan (as I am), then you will most likely love this album. But while "Power of the Dragonflame" brings the Algalord Chronicles to a worthy end, it is easily the least remarkable Rhapsody album of the set.
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| Tracklist: 01. In Tenebris 02. Knightrider of Doom 03. Power of the Dragonflame 04. The March of the Swordmaster 05. When Demons Awake 06. Agony is My Name 07. Lamento Eroico 08. Steelgods of the Last Apocalypse 09. The Pride of the Tyrant 10. Gargoyles, Angels of Darkness |
| Rating: 6/10 |
| Release Date: 2002 |
| Length: 60:58 |
| Review By: F. Justin Ossmann |
| Total Reviews: (1) |
| Bands Website: Go Here |
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